Pause. Think about what you been thinking, what you have been replaying or rehearsing in your mind. Are you allowing the disappointments and heartaches you have experienced on your journey to motherhood, thus far, catapult you into a state of hopelessness about your fertility?
Whether you are a few months into your journey or a few years, facing infertility can be gut-wrenching. I understand. It took me and my husband seven years to have a baby. During those years, we suffered multiple miscarriages, mourned a stillbirth, and shed countless tears. And I was several years past what the medical profession calls advanced maternal age (i.e., 35 and older) once I became pregnant and gave birth to our daughter.
If you are fighting infertility, but not ready to give up hope, you must bring your negative thoughts captive. On my journey, I had to make a conscious, deliberate decision to replace my negative thoughts about having an empty womb month after month with thoughts of hope and life. It was tough at times! And as daunting as that task may feel to you today, please know that it is possible. For example, if your period came this month, yes, that is disheartening when your number one goal is to start a family. But you can choose to be grateful because you have a menstrual cycle—-this means you still have an opportunity to become pregnant!
I urge you to be aware of your thought-life and take control of it. I found hope and encouragement from many Bible verses on my journey to becoming a mommy. Cited from the New International Version (NIV) of the Holy Bible, here are a few I held in my heart and mind during my infertility battle:
Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.
— Hebrews 11:1
I prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of him.
— 1 Samuel 1:27
And by faith even Sarah, who was past childbearing age, was enabled to bear children because she considered him faithful who had made the promise.
— Hebrews 11:11
Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him.
— Psalm 127:3
This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.
And if we know that he hear us— whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.
— 1 John 5:14-15
If you are still trying to get pregnant or you have suffered a loss, do not lose hope. Stay encouraged by choosing your thoughts wisely: “…whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things” (Philippians 4:8, NIV).
